That's an easy one. Make sure you have such a badass reputation that when other people mention you, it causes involuntary shudders of dread and chills to run down their spine. Be so fearsome that they'd rather run the other way than try to fight you.

"I am a machine. I am a weapon of war. I am a destroyer of life in the service of life, the sword and shield of my human creators." Bolo Invincibilus, Mark XXIII, Model B (Experimental) 0075-NKE "Nike".